Bye-bye Heathrow expansion? Justine Greening predicts a third runway will be grounded by David Cameron March 13, 2016 A cabinet minister has taken a surprisingly outspoken stance on the UK's airport expansion, predicting that the Prime Minister will ditch plans for a third runway at Heathrow. International development secretary and west London MP Justine Greening made the comments despite ministers being warned against making any statements on the issue. The government has delayed making a decision on what form airport [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron’s former Europe adviser, Tom Scholar, appointed as permanent secretary to the Treasury March 11, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed his former adviser on European and global issues as permanent secretary to the Treasury, it said today. In a statement it said Tom Scholar, who was also head of the European and global issues secretariat in the Cabinet Office, had been appointed after an "open competition". George Osborne called [...]
Hinkley Point C nuclear power station: EU gives EDF and China’s CGN okay for £18bn project March 11, 2016 The European Union's competition authority has given French utility giant EDF and Chinese nuclear firm CGN regulatory approval to build the controversial Hinkley Point C project. Hinkley is being financed by the two companies and will cost around £18bn. However, there's rising concern over whether EDF's already stretched balance sheet will be able to absorb this. "The [...]
EU referendum: Former British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) director general John Longworth reportedly joining eurosceptic Vote Leave campaign March 10, 2016 Former British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) boss John Longworth is reportedly joining Vote Leave, less than one week after his controversial resignation from one of Britain's biggest business groups. Sky News reported this afternoon that Longworth attended a Vote Leave campaign meeting today and agreed to take on a formal role with the eurosceptic group. [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron admits the EU needs more reform as he makes positive case for EU after criticism over “project fear” March 10, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted that the European Union needs more reform as he laid out the benefits of the UK staying in the EU, after claims the pro-Remain campaign had resorted to project fear. The Prime Minister said: "I'm the first to say there needs to be further reform of the EU. My renegotiation isn't end [...]
Labour MP Dan Jarvis sets out vision for Labour as speculation of leadership mounts March 10, 2016 Backbench Labour MP Dan Jarvis, who is speculated to be a potential challenger to Jeremy Corbyn, has laid out his vision for the British economy today. The speech has been touted as start of Jarvis' bid for the Labour leadership. Giving a speech at the think tank Demos, the former paratrooper argued that New Labour failed [...]
Labour MP David Lammy has been fined £5,000 for instigating nuisance phone calls in mayoral bid March 10, 2016 Labour MP David Lammy has been fined for instigating over 35,000 nuisance phone calls in two days, in his bid to become Mayor of London. Lammy has been fined £5,000 by the Information Commission after instigating calls that urged people to back his bid for London mayor, before Sadiq Khan won Labour's nomination. The Information Commission is [...]
EU referendum: Iceland’s Prime Minister says the UK doesn’t have any power in the EU as it is dominated by Germany March 10, 2016 The United Kingdom has no real say over decisions made in the European Union, as it is increasingly dominated by German interests, Iceland's Prime Minister has said. Member states such as the UK, despite their size, are subject to "diminishing power" in the institutions of the European Union, Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson said. Gunnlaugsson warned that the [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to lead demonstration against the Housing Bill March 10, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is to lead a demonstration in London on Sunday in opposition to the Housing Bill. The national demonstration, organised by Kill the Housing Bill campaign, will march on parliament, urging the government to impose rent controls and secure homes for all. Protesters are to meet at Lincoln's Inn Fields at midday and [...]
Mayors should vow that nobody working in their city will have have to commute for more than one hour – IPPR North March 10, 2016 Can the mayor control your commute? One leading think tank thinks so. The new mayors of some of Britain's biggest cities should vow that nobody working in their region will have to commute for more than one hour by bus, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is arguing in a new report out today. [...]